Method of treatment of prostate

ABSTRACT

A method of treating a patient&#39;s prostate. An endoscopic instrument is inserted through the patient&#39;s urethra such that a distal portion of the endoscopic instrument is inserted into the patient&#39;s prostatic urethra and engaged with an interior wall of the prostatic urethra. A laterally transmitting laser fiber tip of a laser fiber is placed in the endoscopic instrument adjacent to a window therein such that the tip is spaced laterally from an area of the interior wall of the prostatic urethra. Laser light energy is transmitted laterally from the tip through the window onto the interior wall for treatment thereof. A telescope may be placed adjacent the laser fiber tip so that the interior wall of the prostatic urethra may be viewed. Irrigating fluid may be provided from a source external of the patient through the endoscopic instrument to a proximity of the tip. Excess fluid may be returned through the instrument to a fluid dump zone external of the patient&#39;s body. The tip may be moved longitudinally while the laser light energy is transmitted.

This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/928,854filed on Aug. 11, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,507.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to endoscopic apparatus andmethods of using the same, and particularly to such apparatus andmethods for treatment of the prostate.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is generally known to use endoscopic apparatus for treatment ofurinary tract problems. Typically such devices have been particularlyconstructed for treatment of the interior of the bladder. Such devicesare generally referred to as cystoscopes.

More recently, techniques have been developed using a laterally firinglaser for treatment of the prostate, and particularly for treatment of acondition generally known as benign prostatic hypertrophy. Thiscondition involves the swelling of the prostate which tends to close offthe prostatic urethra which passes therethrough. In laser treatment ofthis condition, a laterally firing laser tip is placed within theprostatic urethra and directs a laser beam against the inner wall of theprostate.

To date, such techniques have involved the use of standard cystoscopeswhich have a number of shortcomings since they were not designed forthis usage. A standard cystoscope typically includes a hollow outer tubethe distal end of which is open and a lateral portion of which is openand communicated with the open distal end. The laterally firing lasertip is run through the cystoscope and extends out the open end of thecystoscope.

These prior art techniques of laser treatment of benign prostatichypertrophy are described in Costello et al., "Nd:YAG Laser Ablation ofthe Prostate as a Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy", Lasers inSurgery and Medicine 12:121-124 (1992).

Due to the contracted swollen nature of the prostate when the patient issuffering from benign prostatic hypertrophy, the prostatic urethratherethrough may be essentially completely closed and thus it becomesdifficult to place the fiber tip in position to treat the inner wallwithout having the tip actually engage surrounding tissue. If the tipengages surrounding tissue, this can create difficulties in severalways. If the reflecting surface of the tip touches surrounding tissue,it may become covered with foreign matter so that the tip does notfunction properly. Also, for maximum operational efficiency, the tipshould be spaced from the tissue surface being treated. Also, contact ofthe tip with tissue while the laser is firing may cause the tip toadhere to the tissue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved endoscopic apparatus designedespecially for use in treating the prostate with a laser beam which isdeflected laterally from a tip mounted on the end of a lasertransmitting fiber. The endoscopic apparatus includes an outer sheathwhich provides a means for spreading the prostatic urethra and definingan open space within the prostatic urethra. This outer sheath has aclosed distal end and a laterally open window near the closed distalend.

An inner sheath is slidably received within the outer sheath andprovides a means for placing a laterally transmitting laser fiber tipwithin the open space with the tip spaced laterally from a portion ofthe interior wall of the prostate so that a beam of laser light may betransmitted laterally from the tip through the window of the outersheath onto that portion of the interior wall of the prostate withouttouching the interior wall of the prostate with the laterally reflectinglaser tip.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of thefollowing disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B together comprise an elevation sectioned view of theendoscopic instrument of the present invention. In FIG. 1A, the lowerportions of the internal components carried by the inner sheath areeliminated for purposes of illustration. In FIG. 1B, the internalcomponents are shown and include a telescope and a laser fiber with alaterally transmitting tip in place within the inner sheath.

FIG. 2 is a sectioned view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1B illustratingthe construction of the inner and outer sheaths. The handle and housingof the lower end of FIG. 1A are eliminated from this view for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus of FIGS. 1A-1B inplace within a patient's urethra for treatment of the prostate.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectioned view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4illustrating how the apparatus of FIGS. 1A--1B is used to spread apartthe inner walls of the prostate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A-1B comprise an elevation sectioned view of an endoscopicinstrument generally designated by the numeral 10.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the instrument 10 being used to treatthe prostate 12 of a human male patient 14. The prostate 12 is anannular gland-like member having an opening through the center thereofwhich is commonly known as the prostatic urethra 16, which is a part ofthe urinary tract. The prostate 12 can be described as having an innerwall 17 which defines the prostatic urethra 16 therein. Following theurinary tract further into the patient's body one reaches the bladder18. Following the urinary tract outward, the prostatic urethra 16 iscommunicated through the urethra 20 which extends through the penis tothe exterior of the patient's body.

The details of construction of the endoscopic instrument 10 are bestshown in FIGS. 1A-1B. FIG. 1A comprises a lower portion of theinstrument and FIG. 1B comprises the upper portion of the instrument.

As used herein, the terms proximal and distal are used in their commonmedical sense wherein the distal end of an instrument is the end whichis farther away from the physician and the proximal end of theinstrument is the end which is closest to the physician. Thus, thedistal end of the instrument 10 is received in the patient's body whilethe proximal end of the instrument 10 extends from the patient's bodyand is manipulated by the physician.

The instrument 10 includes a hollow rigid outer sheath 22 having adistal portion 24 with a closed end 26. The distal portion 24 has ahollow space 28 defined therein adjacent the closed end 26. Closed end26 has a bullet-shaped outer surface 27.

Distal portion 24 also has a lateral window 30 defined thereincommunicating the hollow space 28 with an exterior 32 of the outersheath 22.

The outer sheath 22 has a proximal end portion 34 received within acylindrical bore 36 of a cylindrical housing 38. Outer sheath 22 andhousing 38 are fixedly connected together by weld or braze as indicatedat 40. As is further explained below, the outer sheath 22 is notcircular, and thus there are gaps between sheath 22 and the cylindricalbore 36. The weld 40 is a fill weld which completely fills these gaps soas to seal between the housing 38 and outer sheath 22.

The housing 38 also includes a counterbore 42 which communicates with aproximal end 44 of housing 38.

Housing 38 also has irrigating fluid supply and discharge nipples 46 and48, respectively, disposed radially therethrough and communicating withthe counterbore 42.

As is further described below, the outer sheath 22 and housing 38provide an outer sheath assembly within which the other components ofinstrument 10 described below are received in a sliding sword-likefashion.

The instrument 10 also includes an inner sheath 50 which as best seen inFIG. 2 has a laterally enclosed outer wall 52 complementary to andclosely received within the outer sheath 22. As is further describedbelow, the inner sheath 50 is so arranged and constructed that the innersheath 50 and everything contained therein may be withdrawn from theouter sheath 22 while leaving the outer sheath 22 in place within thepatient's body. The inner sheath 50 may also be referred to as an innerassembly 50.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the laterally enclosed outer wall 52 of innersheath 50 is generally pear shaped in cross section. The inner sheath 50includes a smaller cylindrical tube 54 and a larger cylindrical tube 56received in outer wall 52. The tubes 54 and 56 laterally abut each otherat 58 and they each laterally abut the outer wall 52 along a major axis60 of the pear-shaped cross section seen in FIG. 2. Thus the laterallyenclosed outer wall 52 and the tubes 54 and 56 define first and secondinterstitial spaces 62 and 64, respectively, therebetween.

The larger tube 56 has a cylindrical tube bore 66 which defines atelescope passage for receiving an optical telescope 67 of the typeconventionally used in endoscopic instruments.

The smaller tube 54 has a cylindrical bore 68 which defines a fiberpassage or tip passage for receiving a laser light transmitting fiber 70having a laterally transmitting laser fiber tip 72 mounted thereon.

The laterally firing tip 72 preferably is a SIDEFIRE™ laterallytransmitting fiber tip such as is available from MyriadLase, Inc., ofDallas, Tex., and such as is described in detail in U.S. patentApplication Ser. No. 07/746,418 of Judy et al., filed Aug. 16, 1991, andassigned to the assignee of the present invention. The details ofconstruction of tip 72 as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.07/746,418 are incorporated herein by reference.

The first and second interstitial passages 62 and 64 define anirrigating fluid supply passage 62 and an irrigating fluid returnpassage 64, respectively. As further described below, the supply andreturn passages 62 and 64 are communicated with the irrigating fluidsupply and return nipples 46 and 48, respectively.

The laterally enclosed outer wall 52 can be described as having aperimeter 73 defined by its outer surface seen in the cross section ofFIG. 2. The laterally enclosed outer wall 52 can also be described ashaving a minimum smooth perimetered cross sectional area capable ofreceiving the tubes 54 and 56 therein, said perimeter 72 including alarger circular portion 74 and a smaller circular portion 76, which arejoined by two straight lines 78 and 80.

The inner bore 66 of larger tube 56 preferably has a diameter ofslightly greater than five millimeters so that a five-millimeterdiameter telescope 67 may be received therethrough. The inner bore 68 ofsmaller tube 54 preferably has an inner diameter of slightly greaterthan 2.2 millimeters through which can be received a fiber tip 72 havingan outside diameter of 2.2 millimeters. The inner and outer sheaths 50and 22, and the tubes 54 and 56 contained within inner sheath 50 are allpreferably constructed from stainless steel.

Having these dimensions and using relatively thin walls for the outersheath 22 and inner sheath wall 52, an instrument 10 can be constructedhaving a cross section as shown in FIG. 2 substantially equivalent inarea to that of a size 24 French conventional cystoscope.

The laterally enclosed outer wall 52, the smaller cylindrical tube 54,and the larger cylindrical tube 56, of inner sheath 50 are all fixedlyheld together by welding as further described below so that the sameprovide an inner sheath assembly.

As seen in FIG. 1B, the inner sheath 50 has a distal end 82 whichterminates short of the window 30 of outer sheath 22. Preferably, theouter sheath 22 is constructed from two parts, namely a distal part 84having a reduced cross section neck 86 closely received within aproximal tubular part 88 with the two being joined by a weld indicatedat 90.

A proximal end 92 of neck 86 defines a shoulder 92 against which thedistal end 82 of inner sheath 50 abuts when the inner sheath 50 is fullyinserted within the outer sheath 22 as illustrated in FIG. 1B.

As is also seen in FIG. 1B, the fiber passage 68, the telescope passage66, and the flushing fluid supply and return passages 62 and 64 all haveopen distal ends adjacent the distal end 82 of inner sheath 50, whichopen distal ends are all communicated with the hollow space 28 definedwithin the distal portion 24 of outer sheath 22.

As seen in FIG. 1B, the fiber passage or tip passage 68 is located on alateral side of inner sheath 50 opposite the window 30 of outer sheath22, so that when the laser fiber tip 72 is inserted into the hollowspace 28, the laser fiber tip 72 is laterally spaced from the window 30as seen in FIGS. 1B and FIG. 5. As is further described below, thislateral spacing helps prevents the tip 72 from actually touching theinner wall 17 of the prostatic urethra 16 of prostate 12.

The telescope passage 66 is located on a lateral side of the innersheath 50 adjacent the window 30 so that when the telescope 67 isextended distally out of the open end 82 of inner sheath 50, thetelescope 67 will be as close as possible to the window 30. Thetelescope 67 may have a lens 94 defined on the distal end thereof sothat the telescope 67 allows the physician to look out the window 30 andobserve the area of inner wall 17 being treated by a laser light beamtransmitted from tip 72. The lens 94 may for example be a 30° divergingview lens. The tip 72 may also be viewed with the telescope 67 since thedistal end 94 of telescope 67 is located proximally of the laser fibertip 72 as illustrated in FIG. 1B.

The window 30 is open through an arc of approximately 180° about alongitudinal axis of the outer sheath 22. Preferably, the window 30 isconstructed to correspond to an arc of 180° about the longitudinalcentral axis of larger tube 56 when the inner sheath 50 is in placewithin the outer sheath 22.

The inner sheath 50 has a proximal end 96 seen at the bottom of FIG. 1A.Inner sheath 50 is connected at its proximal end 96 by a weld 98 to anintermediate cylindrical tube 100. The tube 100 has a cylindrical bore102 having a diameter just slightly larger than the maximumcross-sectional dimension of the cross-sectional area of outer wall 52seen in FIG. 2 along the major axis 60.

The weld 98 is a fill weld which will seal between the outer surface ofouter wall 52 and the bore 102 of intermediate cylindrical tube 100.

The intermediate cylindrical tube 100 has a reduced diameter cylindricalouter surface 104 which is closely received within counterbore 42 ofcylindrical housing 38. The intermediate cylindrical tube 100 has adistal end 106.

Intermediate cylindrical tube 100 includes a larger diameter cylindricalouter surface 108 which is closely received within a bore 110 of ahandle 112. The intermediate cylindrical tube 100 and handle 112 arefixedly joined together by weld 114. Thus, the handle 112, intermediatecylindrical member 100 and inner sheath 50 are all fixedly connectedtogether and may be withdrawn together from engagement with the housing38 and outer sheath 22.

The handle 112 has a counterbore 116 which is closely received about acylindrical outer surface 118 of housing 38 with a sliding O-ring seal120 being provided therebetween. Handle 112 carries a threaded set screw122 which may be received within a blind bore 124 of housing 38 to fixthe inner sheath 50 in position within the outer sheath 52. When it isdesired to withdraw the inner sheath 50, the set screw 122 is looseneduntil it is withdrawn from blind bore 124 and then the inner sheath 50may be withdrawn from outer sheath 22.

As seen in FIG. 3, the handle 112 has eccentric ears thereon to allowthe physician to insert and transmit torque to the instrument 10 toaxially and rotationally manipulate it within the body cavity.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the proximal ends of larger tube 56 and smallertube 54 are open. The interstitial passages 62 and 64 are closed by fillwelds 126 and 128.

In FIG. 1A, the irrigation fluid supply and discharge nipples 46 and 48are schematically illustrated and are rotated out of their normalpositions so that they may be illustrated in the plane of FIG. 1A.Actually, the supply and discharge nipples 46 and 48 are each rotatedapproximately 90° in opposite directions from the plane of FIG. 1A sothat they are oriented in the positions generally seen in FIG. 3. Also,the intermediate cylindrical member 100 has first and second ports 126and 128 defined therethrough which are aligned with the bores of nipples46 and 48 and with ports 130 and 132 defined through the outer wall 52of inner sheath 50. The ports 126 and 130 are of course actually alignedwith the are actually aligned with the return nipple 48 seen in FIG. 3.

Also, to seal between the supply nipple 46 and return nipple 48, thereis another fill weld (not shown), similar in shape to fill weld 98 seenin FIG. 3, which is located longitudinally between nipples 46 and 48 andseals between the outer surface of inner sheath 50 and the bore 102 ofintermediate cylindrical member 100 to separate the fluid supply andreturn passages.

The fluid supply nipple 46 provides irrigating fluid from a fluid source134. The fluid return nipple returns irrigating fluid from the patient'sbody to a fluid dump zone 136 external of the patient's body.

SURGICAL METHODS OF PROSTATE TREATMENT

The methods of using the apparatus 10 are best described with referenceto FIGS. 4 and 5. Although these methods were developed initially fortreatment of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, they may also be used totreat other diseases such as prostate cancer.

Either the outer sheath 22 alone, or the entire apparatus 10 includingthe outer sheath 22 with the inner sheath 50 received therein istransurethrally inserted within the patient. That is, it is insertedthrough the urethra 20 and into the prostatic urethra 16 to a positiongenerally like that shown in FIG. 4.

Preferably, the apparatus 10 is inserted as an assembly with thetelescope 67 and laser fiber 70 already in place within the telescopepassage 66 and laser fiber passage 68. It will be understood, however,that the telescope 67 and laser fiber 70 may be inserted into thetelescope passages 66 and 68 after the apparatus 10 is in place. Also,the outer sheath 22 may first be placed within the patient, and then theinner sheath 50 with the telescope 67 and laser fiber 70 may be insertedinto the outer sheath 22. Also, the inner sheath may be inserted intothe outer sheath and then the laser fiber 70 and telescope 67 may beinserted in place within the inner sheath.

In any event, the laser fiber 70 is transurethrally placed within thepatient's prostatic urethra 16, and this is accomplished withouttouching the laterally transmitting tip 72 to any of the patient'stissue including the inner wall 17 of the prostatic urethra 16.

The instrument 10, and particularly the outer sheath 22 thereof, is thenused to spread opposed portions of the inner wall 17 thereby defining anopen space 138 within the patient's prostatic urethra. As is apparent inFIG. 5, the hollow space 28 within the outer sheath 22 may be consideredto be a part of the open space 138 between the opposed portions of theinner wall 17 of prostatic urethra 16. This spreading motion isaccomplished by pushing laterally with the rigid instrument 10.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the laterally transmitting tip has been placedwithin the open space 138 adjacent the window 30 of outer sheath 22.

As best seen in FIG. 1B, the laterally transmitting tip 72 is locatedproximally of the end wall 26, and the lens 94 of telescope 67 islocated proximally of the tip 72 while both the telescope 67 and tip 72are contained within the outer sheath 22 and protected from contact withthe patient's bodily tissues.

The tip 72 is oriented so that a laser light beam 140 transmittedtherefrom passes through the window 30 and falls on the inner wall 17 totreat the patient's prostate 12.

During this treatment, the telescope 67 may be used to visualize boththe area of inner wall 17 being treated, and the laterally transmittingtip 72.

If at any time during the procedure, there is a need to clean orwithdraw either the telescope 67 or laterally transmitting tip 72, thiscan be easily accomplished by withdrawing the entire inner sheath 50 andeverything contained therein from the outer sheath 22 while leaving theouter sheath 22 in place. Then the telescope and/or fiber tip 72 may becleaned or replaced as necessary and the assembly reinserted within theouter sheath 22 after which the operation can continue.

During the operation, irrigating fluid from source 134 is providedthrough the irrigating fluid supply passage 62 and exits the end thereofproximally from the location of laterally transmitting tip 72 thusproviding a flow of clean irrigating fluid over the tip 72 which aids inkeeping the tip 72 clean and aids in preventing significant heating ofthe tip 72. Excess irrigating fluid within the space 138 maysimultaneously return through return passage 64. Thus, a continuousstream of irrigating fluid is provided across the tip 72 throughout theoperating procedure.

The closed distal end 26 of outer sheath 22 prevents the tip 72 fromextending out of outer sheath 22 when the tip 72 is being movedlongitudinally within outer sheath 22.

As is apparent in FIG. 1B, the window 30 preferably has a longitudinallength several times that of the longitudinal length of tip 72 so thatthe tip 72 may be longitudinally moved to a plurality of positions suchas the second position 72A shown in phantom lines, while maintaining thewindow 30 in the same position relative to the patient. Then the tip inposition 72A can again transmit a laser light beam onto the inner wall17 at a location longitudinally spaced from the location treated duringthe initial treatment illustrated in the solid line position 72 of FIG.1B. This is particularly advantageous when the contracted portion of theprostatic urethra 16 is longer than normal and it is desirable to treatthe tissue at more than one longitudinal position to open the entirelength of the prostatic urethra.

The operating technique may include a series of rotationally positionedtreatments as described in Costello et al. "Nd:YAG Laser Ablation of theProstate as a Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy", Lasers inSurgery and Medicine 12:121-124 (1992), with the fiber tip 72 heldstationary during treatment. Alternatively, the apparatus 10 having theelongated window 30 several times the length of laterally transmittingtip 72 allows the tip 72 to be longitudinally reciprocated back andforth during the firing of the laser so as to uniformly treat anelongated strip of the inner wall 17 of the prostatic urethra 16. Thiscan be done at several rotational orientations to treat the entireprostate.

The inner sheath 50 may be generally described as a means for placingthe laterally transmitting fiber tip 72 within the open space 138 withthe tip 72 spaced laterally from a portion of the inner wall 17 which isto be treated, so that a beam of laser light 140 may be transmittedlaterally from the tip 72 to the inner wall 17 without the tip 72 evertouching the interior wall 17.

The apparatus and methods described above provide several advantages toprior art techniques, and particularly they provide several advantagesas compared to the techniques discussed in Costello et al. "Nd:YAG LaserAblation of the Prostate as a Treatment for Benign ProstaticHypertrophy", Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 12:121-124 (1992). Thatprior art technique as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the Costello et al.article involves the longitudinal movement of the laterally reflectingtip to a position far distal from the distal end of the outer sheath ofa conventional cystoscope. Thus, the laterally reflecting tipnecessarily touches the patient's tissue and may become contaminated.Most significantly, foreign matter may impair the reflectivity of themirror contained in the tip so that the tip does not fully reflect thelaser light coming down the laser transmitting fiber. If the mirror isblocked with foreign matter, this can result in the destruction of thetip through overheating.

Also, although the outer sheath shown in the Costello et al. article canbe used to laterally press against the inner wall of the prostaticurethra, it does so at a position considerably proximal from theoperating location of the reflecting tip.

Thus it is seen that the apparatus and methods of the present inventionreadily achieve the ends and advantages mentioned as well as thoseinherent therein. While certain preferred embodiments of the inventionhave been illustrated and described for purposes of the presentdisclosure, numerous changes may be made by those skilled in the artwhich changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating a prostate of a patient, said prostate having an interior wall defining a prostatic urethra, said prostatic urethra being communicated by a urethra with an exterior of the patient's body, comprising:(a) inserting a rigid endoscopic instrument through the patient's urethra and inserting a distal portion of said endoscopic instrument into the patient's prostatic urethra, engaging said interior wall with said instrument, and applying a lateral force to said instrument to spread opposed portions of said interior wall such that an open space is defined within the patient's prostatic urethra between a portion of said interior wall and said instrument, said distal portion of said endoscopic instrument having a lateral window defined therein; (b) placing a laterally transmitting laser fiber tip of a laser fiber within said endoscopic instrument adjacent said window; (c) spacing said tip laterally from an area of said interior wall exposed through said window; (d) directing said tip so that a beam of laser light transmitted therefrom will be directed through said window and said open space; and (e) transmitting said beam of laser light laterally in substantially a single direction from said tip through said window and said open space onto said area of said interior wall and thereby treating said area of said interior wall.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:placing a telescope adjacent said laser fiber tip so that during said step (e), said laser fiber tip and said area of said interior wall may be viewed through said telescope while said laser fiber tip remains within said instrument.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein:said step (e) is accomplished without touching said interior wall with said tip.
 4. A method of treating a patient's prostate, comprising:(a) transurethrally inserting a rigid instrument having a distal end portion located within the patient's prostatic urethra, said prostatic urethra being defined by an inner wall of the patient's prostate; (b) spreading opposed portions of said inner wall with said instrument by applying a lateral force to said instrument to thereby define an open space within the patient's prostatic urethra between said instrument and said inner wall; (c) placing a laterally transmitting tip of a laser fiber in communication with said open space, with said laterally transmitting tip being located proximally of a distal end of said instrument; and (d) transmitting a beam of laser light laterally in substantially a single direction from said laterally transmitting tip onto said inner wall to treat the patient's prostate.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:placing a viewing end of a telescope adjacent said open space; and observing step (d) with said telescope.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein:in step (a), said instrument includes a rigid outer sheath; and during step (d), both said viewing end of said telescope and said laterally transmitting tip are located within said rigid outer sheath.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:in step (a), said instrument includes a rigid outer sheath having said distal end portion defined thereon, and a rigid inner assembly received in said outer sheath, said telescope and said laser fiber being contained within said inner assembly; withdrawing said inner assembly from said outer sheath with said telescope and said laser fiber contained therein, while maintaining said outer sheath in place within the patient's body; and reinserting said inner assembly containing said telescope and said laser fiber into said outer sheath.
 8. The method of claim 4, wherein:in step (a), said instrument is a rigid instrument; and step (b) includes laterally pressing against said inner wall of the patient's prostate with said rigid instrument during steps (b) and (d), while maintaining said laterally transmitting tip proximally of a distal end of said instrument.
 9. A method of treating a prostate of a patient, said prostate having an interior wall defining a prostatic urethra, said prostatic urethra being communicated by a urethra with an exterior of the patient's body, comprising:(a) inserting an endoscopic instrument through the patient's urethra and inserting a distal portion of said endoscopic instrument into the patient's prostatic urethra and engaging said interior wall with said instrument to spread opposed portions of said interior wall and pushing laterally with said instrument such that an open space is defined within the patient's prostatic urethra between a portion of said interior wall and said instrument, said distal portion of said endoscopic instrument having a lateral window defined therein; (b) placing a laterally transmitting laser fiber tip of a laser fiber within said endoscopic instrument adjacent said window; (c) spacing said tip laterally from an area of said interior wall exposed through said window; (d) directing said tip so that a beam of laser light transmitted therefrom will be directed through said window and said open space; and (e) transmitting said beam of laser light laterally in substantially a single direction from said tip through said window and said open space onto said area of said interior wall and thereby treating said area of said interior wall; and (f) during said step (e), providing irrigating fluid from a source external of said patient through said endoscopic instrument to a proximity of said tip, and simultaneously returning excess fluid from the proximity of said tip through said endoscopic instrument to a fluid dump zone external of the patient's body.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step (e) is accomplished without touching said interior wall with said tip, and further comprising:placing a telescope adjacent said laser fiber tip so that during said step (e), said laser fiber tip and said area of said interior wall may be viewed through said telescope while said laser fiber tip remains within said instrument.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein:in step (a), said endoscopic instrument includes an outer sheath which engages the urethra and the prostatic urethra, and an inner assembly closely received in said outer sheath, so that said inner assembly and everything contained therein may be withdrawn from said outer sheath while leaving said outer sheath in place within the patient's urethra, said inner assembly having defined therein a telescope passage and a tip.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein:in step (a), said window is defined in said outer sheath, and said inner assembly has a distal end which terminates at a position so that said window is open when said inner assembly is fully inserted in said outer sheath; and in step (b), said tip is extended distally out of said tip passage to a longitudinal position adjacent said window, said longitudinal position still being within said outer sheath.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein:said telescope passage is located on a lateral side of said instrument adjacent said window.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:in step (a), said outer sheath has a closed distal end; and during step (b), preventing said tip from extending distally out of said instrument by limiting distal movement of said tip with said closed distal end of said outer sheath.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:withdrawing said inner assembly from said outer sheath while said telescope and said laser fiber are contained within said telescope passage and said tip passage and while said outer sheath remains within the patient's urethra and prostatic urethra; and reinserting said inner assembly, with said telescope and said laser fiber contained within said telescope and tip passages thereof, as an assembly within said outer sheath.
 16. A method of treating a prostate of a patient, said prostate having an interior wall defining a prostatic urethra, said prostatic urethra being communicated by a urethra with an exterior of the patient's body, comprising:(a) inserting an endoscopic instrument through the patient's urethra and inserting a distal portion of said endoscopic instrument into the patient's urethra and engaging said interior wall of said instrument to spread opposed portions of said interior wall and pushing laterally with said instrument such that an open space is defined within the patient's prostatic urethra between a portion of said interior wall and said instrument, said distal portion of said endoscopic instrument having a lateral window defined therein; (b) placing a laterally transmitting laser fiber tip of a laser fiber within said endoscopic instrument adjacent said window; (c) spacing said tip laterally from an area of said interior wall exposed through said window; (d) directing said tip so that a beam of laser light transmitted therefrom will be directed through said window and said open space; and (e) transmitting said beam of laser light laterally in substantially a single direction from said tip through said window and said open space onto said area of said interior wall and thereby treating said area of said interior wall; wherein, in said step (a), said endoscopic instrument includes an outer sheath having said window defined therein, and said step (a) further includes pressing a side of said outer sheath opposite said window laterally against a portion of said interior wall opposite said area of said interior wall being treated in said step (e) while said laser fiber tip remains in said outer sheath.
 17. A method of treating a prostate of a patient, said prostate having an interior wall defining a prostatic urethra, said prostatic urethra being communicated by a urethra with an exterior of the patient's body, comprising:(a) inserting an endoscopic instrument through the patient's urethra and inserting a distal portion of said endoscopic instrument into the patient's prostatic urethra and engaging said interior wall of said instrument to spread opposed portions of said interior wall and pushing laterally with said instrument such that an open space is defined within the patient's prostatic urethra between a portion of said interior wall and said instrument, said distal portion of said endoscopic instrument having a lateral window defined therein; (b) placing a laterally transmitting laser fiber tip of a laser fiber within said endoscopic instrument adjacent said window; (c) spacing said tip laterally from an area of said interior wall exposed through said window; (d) directing said tip so that a beam of laser light transmitted therefrom will be directed through said window and said open space; (e) transmitting said beam of laser light laterally in substantially a single direction from said tip through said window and said open space onto said area of said interior wall and thereby treating said area of said interior wall; (f) after said step (e), and while maintaining said window in the same position as in said step (e), longitudinally moving said tip relative to said window; and (g) then again transmitting said beam of laser light laterally from said tip through said window onto said area of said interior wall at a location longitudinally spaced from a location treated in said step (e).
 18. A method of treating a patient's prostate, comprising:(a) transurethrally inserting an instrument having a distal end portion located within the patient's prostatic urethra, said prostatic urethra being defined by an inner wall of the patient's prostate; (b) spreading opposed portions of said inner wall with said instrument and pushing laterally with said instrument and thereby defining an open space within the patient's prostatic urethra between said instrument and said inner wall; (c) placing a laterally transmitting tip of a laser fiber in communication with said open space, with said laterally transmitting tip being located proximally of a distal end of said instrument; (d) transmitting a beam of laser light laterally in substantially a single direction from said laterally transmitting tip on the said inner wall to treat the patient's prostate; and (e) during step (d), providing irrigating fluid from a source external of said patient through said instrument to a proximity of said laterally transmitting tip, and simultaneously returning excess fluid from the proximity of said laterally transmitting tip through said instrument to a fluid dump zone external of the patient's body. 